pink skies ↠ joshua hong

four

A/N: sorry for the extremely late update, my friends ! How was everyone's day/night?

"Do you think we would still be friends after we break up?" I asked intertwining my fingers with Joshua's slender hands.

He leaned down and rested his chin on my head and pressed a gentle kiss on top of it.

"Nari, don't say things like that. You were my best friend before we dated and you'll always be someone I'll keep close to my heart."

He tugged me closer to his body and encircled his arms around my waist.

"Do you promise?"

"I promise."

I shuddered at the unexpected memory that crossed my mind.

"You guys know each other?" S.Coups asked in surprise pointing between Joshua and I.

Joshua was standing still with shock written all over his features, unable to comprehend why Nari was in SEVENTEEN's practise room.

"ah we were friends," I answered for him.

"Were?" Joshua asked with one of his eyebrows arched up.

"We're old friends," I muttered, rephrasing my answer.

The rest of the group was listening intently to the short conversation, also surprised at the reunion of these two friends.

"That's great, Nari is our new pianist she'll be helping with the vocal team. Why don't you show her around the vocal team's practise room later?" S.Coups suggested, unaware of the strange tension between the pair.

I was just about to decline when Dokyum cut me off.

"I'll join them,"

I smiled in gratitude at him.

Dokyum sensed that something wasn't right between the two from seeing Joshua's strange mannerisms and how Nari seemed uncomfortable around Joshua. Nari's grateful smile confirmed his second assumption.

"Actually why don't you guys show her around first? It's just dance practise for the first hour so you can make up for it at home," S.Coups suggested again.

"Yeah, sounds good I just need to go to the bathroom first I'll meet you two there," Dokyum said pointing towards the cafeteria area before jogging to the toliets.

The rest of the group gave us a small wave and smile before dispersing into the dance room leaving Joshua and I standing in an isolated room.

I began walking silently towards the area which Dokyum pointed at before and sat quietly on the couch.

Joshua followed and sat on the couch opposite mine.

"It's good to see you again," he said softly.

I continued to stay silent and stared intently at the wooden floor boards. It was strange to hear his voice in person again after four years of just watching interviews and performances online to listen to his soft and gentle voice.

I missed it so much.

"Why'd you say that we were friends?" he asked emphasising the word "were," my heart clenched at the way his voice wavered, hurt evident in his tone.

"Well that's what we are, aren't we?"

He didn't reply instead he stared at my face, analysing the features that changed throughout the four years we spent apart.

I shifted uncomfortably away from his gaze, but whichever way I turned I could still see him looking my way in my peripheral vision.

I began mentally begging for Dokyum to come back from the toilets as soon as possible.

"It's been four years,"

"Yes, yes it has," I replied strictly.

"How have you been?" he asked gently.

"I've been good, it was nice to get away from Korea for a bit," I couldn't help but let the last phrase slip out.

Joshua faltered and I recognised the look of guilt that flashed through his eyes but choose not to say anything more.

Suddenly the sound of heavy footsteps approached us and Dokyum appeared with a bright smile apologising for keeping us waiting. We both shook our heads assuring that it was okay.

We followed Dokyum, who took on the role as the 'tour guide', around the practise room informing me on all the different equipment we had on hand.

As we were walking I felt Joshua's presence inch closer and closer to my body until I felt his breath fan close to my ear.

My heart hammered madly against my chest and my face flushed to a deep red colour at what he said next.

"I still remember the promise I made."